Sigma’s latest lens goes fast, high and wide

The new 20mm f1.4 Art, designed for higher-resolution cameras, is the fastest full-frame wide-angle to date.

Landscape photographers rejoice. Claiming to be the first full-frame lens of its kind — and that it’s optimized for use on cameras with high-resolution sensors — the Sigma 20mm f1.4 Art joins the rest of the company’s high-quality but reasonably priced prime lenses.

Like most of Sigma’s new lenses, it’s slated to cost $899 when it ships in November. (There are no UK or Australian prices yet, but it will probably be around £850 or AU$1,170.)

The lens bears all the hallmarks of Sigma’s Art series: a metal barrel, an aperture with nine rounded blades and a quiet hypersonic motor.

It can focus as close as 10.9 inches, has a minimum aperture of f16 and is 3.6 inches long with a diameter of 5.1 inches. On an APS-C camera, the angle of view of the lens is equivalent to that of a 30mm (Nikon) or 32mm (Canon).